Apparent Fire Tornado Spotted in California amid Wildfires

The devastating Park Fire has affected northern California, Oregon and parts of Canada

An apparent fire tornado has become the latest obstacle for first responders as fires rage throughout California, burning thousands of acres of land.

According to Axios, northern California, Oregon and some parts of Canada are experiencing extreme heat and dry conditions. Fox Weather reported that over 160,000 acres have been burned.

Now, the Park Fire, located northeast of Chico and one of California's biggest wildfires this year, has grown due to a vortex containing wind, smoke and flames, as per Fox Weather.

The intense heat and massive upward wind gusts near the fire's edge combined to create these fiery tornadoes, according to the publication. The San Francisco Chronicle further noted that fire tornadoes are not much different from typical tornadoes in terms of their formation.

These fire tornadoes can pick up embers from already-existent fires and ignite new ones, with vortex winds exceeding 140 miles per hour.

A video shared by the Wall Street Journal showed the massive vortex above the treetops in California, spiraling through the sky and decimating the land in its path

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to the WSJ, a burning car pushed into a gully caused the massive fire on Wednesday, July 24. A suspect who allegedly started the fire in Butte County has been arrested, per a subsequent WSJ report.

Related: 13 Young Hikers Found After Disappearing Near California Wildfire

Residents of Butte and Tehama counties were forced to evacuate their homes as a result of the fires, according to the outlet.

Over 1,100 firefighters are working to contain and eliminate the blaze, Fox Weather reported.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.